Dry mash feed hopper



Oct. 18, I949; D. MQSMUCKER 2,485,173

' DRY MASH FEED HOPPER Filed. July 51, 1945 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 6 6 J.Z)Z, Si/zzzckefl 1N VEN TOR.

BY 2 z Oct. 18, 1949. D. M. SMUCKER 2,485,173

DRY MASH FEED HOPPER Filed July 31, 1945 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIC .elfucfirzzacker B WORIYEVS.

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Patented Oct. 18, 1949 DRY MASH FEED HOPPER Daniel M. Smucker, Harrisonburg, Va. Application July 31, 1945, Serial No. 607,955

2 Claims.

This invention relates to feed hoppers designed primarily for feeding poultry or the like, and is particularly constructed for feeding dry mash.

An important object of the invention is to provide a feed hopper of this character which will be automatic in operation, to the end that as the feed is consumed by the poultry, the hopper will automatically operate to replenish the supply of feed in the trough, forming a part of the feeder, thereby insuring a sufficient quantity of feed being present in the trough, at all times.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure l is an elevational view of the feeder constructed in accordance with the invention, a portion of the side wall of the feeder having been broken away to illustrate the trough and feed end of the hopper.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view, one of the hoppers and troughs of the feeder being shown in section, the other hopper and trough being shown in end elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through one end of a modified form of feeder, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through one end of the modified form of feeder, taken at right angles to Figure 4.

'Referring to the drawing in detail, the feeder comprises a base 5 which is mounted on the skids 6, so that the feeder may be readily moved from place to place.

The feeder also includes a body portion or housing 1 which is provided with cover sections 8 that are pivotally connected to the body portion by the rods 8' and 9, the construction being such that the cover sections may swing open, for filling the hoppers 9 that are mounted within the body portion or housing I, at opposite sides thereof, the hoppers extending longitudinally of the body portion or housing 7. The latch Ill connects the cover sections at their adjacent upper ends, normally holding the cover sections closed.

As shown, these hoppers include front and rear walls I0 that are inclined towards each other,

towards the upper end of the hoppers, the lower portions of the walls I0 being inclined inwardly towards each other providing spouts I I and wide sections, directly above the spouts. These spouts II, extend into the troughs I2 so thatfeed may pass from the hoppers into the troughs.

Disposed within the wide portions of the noppers, are bafiies I3 each of which comprises a length of sheet metal material bent intermediate its side edges, the baffles being of lengths to extend throughout the entire lengths of the hoppers, the free edges of the baffles being spaced appreciable distances from the Walls I ll of the hoppers, so that the mash contained in the hoppers, may flow between the baffles and walls of the hoppers, to enter the spouts I I.

Mounted within each hopper, and disposed between the free edges of the baffles I3 and walls It of the hoppers, are curved valve members It which extend throughout the length of the hoppers, the valve members being of widths to close the spaces between the edges of the baffles I3 and walls of the hoppers, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing. These valve members I4 are secured at the outer ends of the arms I5 which have pivotal connection with the end walls of the hoppers, at It. Arcuate shaped slots #1 are formed in the end walls of the hoppers and accommodate the pins I8 that connect the links I9 with the arms I5, the links l9 being connected with the links 29 that are pivotally mounted on the outer end walls of the hoppers. Links 26) have pivotal connection with the links 2I and connect with the main links 22 of the trough support.

Formed in the end walls of the hoppers, are slots 23 that are disposed vertically, near the front walls of the spouts II for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Stub shafts 24 extend from the lower ends of the main links 22, and connect with the troughs. These shafts 24 also support the rollers 25, that contact with the walls of the slots 23, the rollers providing anti-friction means to insure the free vertical movement of the troughs.

Coiled springs indicated at 26 connect the links 20 with the end walls of the body portion or housing I, and normally act to draw the links 20 upwardly elevating the troughs, when the weight of the feed within the troughs is insufiicient to move the troughs downwardly against the action of the springs 26.

It will of course be understood that the front and rear sides of the housing or body portion are open, and that the cover sections 8 are of widths to extend appreciable distances beyond the front and rear sides to protect the feed contained in the troughs I2, against the elements.

In the operation of the feeder, the troughs are moved to the positions shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, by the weight of the feed passing into the troughs. As the troughs move to the positions shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, the valves I4 are moved to their closed positions as shown by Fig. 2. As the feed is consumed by the'poultry feeding from the trough, the springs 25 act to elevate the trough, whereupon the valve members I4 will be swung to their open positions, dis- 3 charging feed into the troughs. As the troughs [2 move downwardly under the weight of the feed, the valve members I4 are returned to their closed positions to restrict and prevent further feed passing to the troughs l2.

In the modified form of the invention as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, the hopper 26 is supported within a housing similar to the housing '1 of the feeder shown by Sheet 1 of the drawings, the hopper 26 being provided with a downwardly and outwardly flared spout 21 that reaches throughout the entire length of the feeder, the lower end of the spout 21 being extended inwardly at 28 to direct the feed inwardly to be deposited in the trough 29 which hangs directly under the open end of the spout. Mounted within the widened portion of the spout, are deflector plates 30 which extend throughout the length of the hopper and act to deflect the feed laterally within the widened portion of the spout.

Operating within the spout is the valve 3| which embodies front and rear members 32 connected at their ends by means of the members 33 to which the links 34 are connected, the links 34 being also connected to the trough 29, through H the medium of the bolts 35 that provide shafts for the pulley 36 that operate within the slots 31 formed in the extended lower ends of the end walls 38 of the hopper.

Links 39 also have connection with the end members 33, the links 39 having openings at their upper ends through which the hooks 40 extend. These hooks 40 are connected with the yokes 41 in which the rollers 42 are mounted. These rollers 42 operate within the cut-out portions 43 formed in the upper edges of the arms 44 that are pivotally connected to the blocks 45 which are mounted within the hopper at the ends thereof, the blocks 45 being disposed in spaced relation with the end walls of the hopper.

The cut-out portions 43 of the arms 44 are so arranged that an inner shoulder is formed which is normally in a direct vertical line with the link operating directly thereunder, with the result that when the arms 44 are in their elevated Positions as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, the rollers 42 will be held against further movement towards the pivot point of the arms 44.

Connected with each arm 44, is a coiled spring 46, which coiled springs are connected with the adjusting bolts 41 that extend through the plates 48 secured along theupper edges of the blocks 45, there being provided winged nuts 49 for adjusting the tension of the coiled springs, to regulate the operation of the feeder.

The front and rear members 32 constitute the slide valve for the hopper, and when the slide valve is in the position as shown by Fig. of the drawings, the valve is open permitting feed to pass under the lower edges of the valve, where the feed gravitates to the trough 29.

When the valve member moves downwardly to contact with the inwardly extended portions 28 of the hopper, the openings through which the feed passes through the hopper will be closed, cutting ofi the passage of feed to the trough.

It might be further stated, that the modified form of the invention provides a structure wherein the operation of the valve will be certain and positive. For example, when feed passes into the trough, the arms 44 will swing gradually downwardly under the weight of the material in the trough. When the arms 44 move to a position slightly below a horizontal line drawn through the pivot point of the arms 44, the weight of the 4 material in the trough will cause the rollers 42 to move towards the free ends of the arms 44, abruptly shutting off the passage of feed to the hopper.

It is obvious that as the feed is consumed and the weight within the trough is reduced to a point where the springs 46 will overcome the weight, the arms 44 will be drawn upwardly, and when the rollers 42 move to positions above a horizontal line drawn through the pivot points of the arms 44, they will be snapped to the positions shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, whereupon the valve will move to its open position, allowin feed to again pass through the hopper into the trough. As the trough fills, the valve will move downwardly cutting off the further supply of material to the trough.

The links 34 are provided with lines of openings through which the bolts 35 may be extended, to adjust the throw of the link and resultant movement of the trough, to regulate the quantity of material flowing into the trough.

In view of the foregoing detail disclosure, it is believed that the operation of the feeder will be apparent.

What is claimed is:

1. In a feeder, a hopper having side walls, a spout formed at the lower end of the hopper, a bafile supported between the walls of the hopper and having lower edges in spaced relation therewith, swinging valve members mounted within the hopper and adapted to normally close the spaces between the lower edge of the baffle and side walls of the hopper, a vertically movable trough mounted below the hopper and adapted to receive material from the hopper, links connecting the trough, and valve members adapted to move the valve members to their open positions upon upward movement of the trough, releasing material to the trough.

2. In a feeder, a hopper having side walls, a spout formed at the lower end of the hopper, a baffle within the hopper spaced from the walls of the hopper, swinging valve members supported within the hopper between the baflie and walls of the hopper, closing the spaces at the opposite sides of the baflie, said spout having elongated vertical openings in the end walls thereof, a trough mounted below the spout, to receive material therefrom, shafts extending from the trough and operating within the elongated openings, pivoted links connecting the shafts and valve members, moving the valve members to their closed positions as the trough moves downwardly, regulating the quantity of feed passing to the trough.

DANIEL M. SMUCKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 434,723 Richards Aug. 19, 1890 772,121 Anderson Oct. 11, 1904 1,061,710 Webb May 13, 1913 1,346,024 Hiner et a1 July 6, 1920 1,587,775 Higgins June 8, 1926 1,849,908 Clutter Mar. 15, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 86,705 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1920 

